Martin Mc Guinness. A Reflection. Friday the 21 March was the eighth anniversary of the death of our friend and leader Martin McGuinness. Like many others, I am sure, I was perplexed as it dawned on me that eight years had passed since we lost him. In my head I thought it was five or six years ago. But as we people of a certain age should now know time waits for no one. I remember as if it was yesterday dashing to the hospital. Even though we were anticipating his death there was nonetheless a numbness, a shock to be told that Martin was gone. A Courageous Advocate for Palestinian Ms. Francesca Albanese is the Special Rapporteur for the United Nations in the Palestinian territories. She is a remarkable champion for human rights and international law whose moral integrity and deep rooted humanity are an inspiration. Her leadership on Palestinian rights, her unremitting and courageous criticism of Israel’s decades long illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories, is an example for all of us who seek a just peace between the peoples of Palestine and of Israel. Last week Ms. Albanese was in the South of Ireland addressing Universities, giving interviews, attending the massive pro-Palestinian march in Dublin on Saturday and meeting a wide range of individuals and groups. The only answer is Unity There are at least 50,000 people in Belfast reliant on PIP (Personal Independence Payment). Given that levels of disadvantage and poor health indicators are higher in west Belfast it is safe to assume that many thousands of families in that part of the city are especially vulnerable to British government cuts to the PIP system. Over the years Labour governments have shown scant regard for their socialist roots. Often they are just a pale imitation of the Tories who care even less. They especially show no empathy when it comes to the North. Year after year the British block grant fails to meet our basic public service requirements whether in the provision of health, education, housing, agriculture or the environment. The Executive scrambles to stretch a finite budget.
